Mini Countryman (2024) - First Drive Review

Mini is now adding new models to its lineup, and these newcomers will soon hit our shores. The new Countryman forms part of this entourage and is the South African introduction to the 'Charismatic Simplicity' design philosophy.

Related: First Drive Impression - Mini John Cooper Works Countryman and Clubman

This Mini is simple in design but far from rudimentary in driving dynamics, user experience, and sustainable elements. It is made in Leipzig, Germany. We sampled two of the Countryman variants ready for sale in South Africa, namely the Countryman 'C' and Countryman 'S'. The JCW and SE variants are set to arrive later in 2024. You can have the Countryman in either 'Classic' or 'Favoured' trim.

Styling

The latest Countryman is slightly larger, 13 cm longer and 8 cm higher than its predecessor. Its styling is more on the reserved end rather than being loud and proud, with some subtle and cleverly considered styling touches. The front is easily recognisable as a Mini, with the traditional rounded headlights now taking on a hexagonal shape, while the octagonal grille is outlined with a satin silver finished trim. The bonnet is long with broad fenders and clearly defined wheel arch creases. On the side, you'll see patterned plastic cladding and doors with a smoothly curved top, flush door handles, and a body line crease at the bottom.

The roof and pillars are finished in gloss black. You have a few wheel options, but most notably, there's a wheel with recycled aluminium, further adding to the sustainable elements of the vehicle. The rear is significant, with the most noticeable aspect being the LED taillights, which can be personalised in either the standard classic taillight function or, if you liked the Union Jack setup, that can be done too with the 'Light Signatures' function found in the 'Favoured' trim. Overall, the Countryman most certainly has some presence.

Interior

Inside is where you'll see much of the 'Charismatic Simplicity' design philosophy. It uses the simplicity employed in classic Mini models but gives it a dash of modernity, creating a sense of occasion whenever you jump into the Countryman. Compared to the previous Countryman's cabin, the latest version looks less busy. Much of the analogue buttons have been moved into the rather nifty circular infotainment screen, paying homage to the centre instrument binnacle found in Mini Coopers of old. The resolution, colour and glare management on the screen is brilliant. The system uses Mini OS 9 and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The menus are simple, and the extra real estate that the 240mm circular screen offers gives more room for instruments and easy climate control adjustments. Mini Connected, flexible subscriptions to handle a range of music, gaming, news and video apps are being rolled out soon. The 'Experiences' toggle switch also changes the screen's theme to suit your style. Speaking of toggle switches, the gear selector and ignition are toggle switches, too, with the ignition switch being a neat reference to a key turn. The interior is filled with neat touches that make the product entirely unique.

The touch materials found in the interior also have sustainability in mind. The cloth trim on the door cards and the Vescin leather-trimmed seats feel good to the touch. In the Classic trim, the seat sides are finished with sustainable cloth. The cloth is also found on the rectangular dashboard with the vertical air vents running perpendicularly. The steering wheel feels great in the hands and the design is rather lovely to look at. A cloth strip mimics the bottom spoke, and the nine-to-three spokes are positioned lower down, making the wheel more ergonomic.

When using the cruise control function, we noted the lack of a 'Reset' button, which would make life a bit easier. The Countryman's cabin is pretty airy, with plenty of headroom and sufficient shoulder room. Seating can easily accommodate larger builds, but the seating could be done with adjustable headrests.  There are 450 litres of boot space with the rear seats folded up, and the luggage area can reach a maximum of up to 1 450 litres. The Countryman's interior design is well-considered and a pleasant place to be in.

The Drive

The Countryman in 'C' guise is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine making 115kW and 240Nm with power sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed DCT. In Countryman 'S' trim, you'll find a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 150kW and 320Nm with power sent to all four wheels via the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DCT). Power delivery in both variants is brisk. The 1.5-litre feels linear, and the power delivery feels stronger in the 2.0-litre, thanks partly to the ALL4 system. The DCT in the 2.0-litre does tend to be grabby on shift up when at wide open throttle but is smooth with gentle acceleration. Ride quality in the Countryman is compliant, and handling feels tight with confident steering, as you'd tend to expect with a Mini. Both vehicles felt at home and alive on the winding mountain roads and would fare well even for long open road trips. The 202 mm ground clearance would be fair on the offroad, and the 'Trail' option in the 'Experience' modes also shows some offroad view assistance.

Pricing

*Pricing stated here was correct when publishing and is subject to change without prior notice.

Conclusion

The new Countryman exudes personality, and there are many clever design touches that one would appreciate. The circular infotainment screen is a novel idea and works well to the Countryman's advantage. Arguably, the Countryman can be a little too simple in some areas, but fundamentally, it does its primary function of being a solid premium crossover well.